Multipurpose bookrack



Dec. 9, 1952 R. J. SPORTSMAN MULTIPURPOSE BOOKRACK Filed April 10, 1950 f A N M Robert J. Sparfsman IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a rack which is especially constructed to compactly and conveniently support books, magazines and the like and which is possessed of appreciable refinements and improvements not embodied in other similarly constructed rack constructions.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient rack in which manufacturers and users will find their anticipated needs all fully met, contained and compactly and conveniently available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack as stated which is characterized by a pair of complemental book-ends mechanically joined together by a plurality of horizontal guide and as sembling rods, said rods being provided with a selectively movable book assembling and clamping slide, said book-ends having convenient hand gr1ps.

Another object of the invention is to utilize one of the hand grips as a mount for a complemental segmental block, said block being vertical and in spaced parallelism in respect to the adjacent book-end to provide a ledge between itself and said book-end for miscellaneous articles and having an arrangement of sockets in its upper edge to serve as pencil and pen holders.

More specifically, the novel rack is characterized by a pair of substantially vertical book-ends, a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced parallel rods secured rigidly at opposite ends to the basal portions of said book-ends, the upper end portions of said book-ends being canted slightly toward each other, a vertical slide located between said book-ends, the basal portion of said slide having holes therein, the portions of said rods between said book-ends passing through said holes, said holes being fitted snugly for retention on said rods, whereby said slide may be held by friction in the various established positions to which it may be selectively moved by hand.

Then, too, novelty is especially predicated on the slide which is located on the rods between the book-ends and whose lower or basal portion is especially apertured to frictionally lock the slide on the rods when the weight of the books or other articles is brought to bear on said rods.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are utilized to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book rack constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, showing the manner in which the rack is used;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the longitudinal line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation detailing the manner in which the slide is shiftably movable and capable of being locked on the stated rods.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and accompanying lead lines it will be seen that the book ends are respectively denoted by the numerals 8 and 8 respectively. These book-ends may be made from wood or other appropriate material and each is of general rectangular form. The lower or basal end portion is provided with a notch I 0 defining feet I2l2 which are adapted to rest firmly on a fiat table or the like A as shown in Figure 2.

The numerals M-hl designate felt or equivalent buffers for the feet 12. Each book-end is provided on its outward side with a horizontal block which functions as a hand grip. The block at the left is denoted by the numeral l6 and the one at the right is differentiated by the numeral l8. Block I 8 is provided with a complemental vertically disposed block 29 of general segmental form. The block 20 is spaced from and substantially parallel to the book-end 8. It therefore cooperates therewith in providing a convenient ledge for small miscellaneous articles (not shown). The upper curvate edge of the block is provided with sockets 22 which may be employed as receivers and holders for pencils or the like 24.

As before mentioned these book-ends 6 and 8 are mechanically tied together by way of horizontally disposed guide and assembling rods 26. These rods are preferably of dowel stock. The outer ends of all rods are anchored in sockets 28 provided therefor in the inward surfaces of the book-ends. All of these sockets are in the same plane, that is, the sockets at the right are in the same plane as those at the left. It is to be noted, however, that the upper end portions 28 and 30 respectively of the book-ends are canted or tilted slightly toward each other to approximately two degrees. In Figure 2 the numerals 32 designate the vertical or perpendicular lines denoting the manner in which the upper ends of said bookends are toed in toward each other. Incidentally, the rods 26 are bendably resilient.

The book-ends may be described as panels and thus conveniently compared with the third panel or book assembling and clamping slide 34. This also has a bottom notch 36 defining supporting feet 38 faced with felt buffers or pads 40. The basal portion of the slide, just above the notch, is provided with a horizontal row of especially designed holes and the rods are passed through the holes (see Fig. 4). All of these holes are hourglass-shaped and are in the same plane with each other. However, the axial centers of these holes 42 are on aplane slightly higher than the plane of the aforementioned rod accommodating sockets 28. That is to say, the holes 42 are approximately one-thirty-second of an inch higher than the sockets 28. The outer end portions 44 and 46 (see Figure 4) are gradually enlarged in diameter and provide clearance pockets for the rods which pass therethrough.

Obviously, with the holes 42 slightly higher than the sockets 28 the rods are imperceptibly bowed upwardly. Or, to put it otherwise, the space between the supporting surface A and hole 42 is such that a frictional locking result is had.

The book holder operates by placing the book, books or other objects to be held, in position next to one of the book-ends 6 and 8, then shifting the center slide 34 against the articles B, holding them firmly inplace. The center slide will not slip or give to permit the books to fall or lean unless it is tipped slightly by hand, then it willmove freely and permit of adjustment for more books or a lesser number, always holding firmly, until moved by hand.

I would stresstoo the illustration seen in Fig. 4 which shows the dotted line tilted position and would further stress the fact that it is the weight of the books on the rodsiii which maintains the slide 34 in its locked position.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in'conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient toclarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A multipurpose rack of the class shown comprising a pair of duplicate substantially vertical book-end panels, a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced parallel 'fiexibly resilient rods secured at their respective opposite outer ends to corresponding basal portions of said book-end panels, the upper end portions of the latter panels being canted slightly toward each other, a vertical slide panel located between said book-end panels, the basal portion of said slide panel having horizontal holes therein, portions of said rods between said book-end panels passing through said holes, said holes being hourglass-shaped with their restricted central portions fitted snugly'for retention on said rods, the lower edge of the basal portion of said slide panel projecting to a plane slightly below the planes occupied by the corresponding edge portions of the book-end panels whereby when all three panels are placed on a flat supporting surface, the-rods are flexed and longitudinally bowed and when weight is brought to bear on said bowed rods they become frictionally lodged in said holes.

ROBERT J .SPORTSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 518,573 Parker Apr. .17, 1894 849,298 Weis Apr. 2, 1907 986,069 Kohlhaas Mar. '7, 1911 1,049,726 Johnson -1 Jan. 7, 1913 1,379,766 Koblos May .31, 1921 1,472,820 White Nov. 6, 1923 2,134,606 Hackworth et al. Oct. 25, .1938 2,510,077 'Coifman June 6, 1950 

